Penny Pairs Worksheet
Penny Pairs Investigation
Even Numbers, Fair Shares & Equal Addends
Name:
Date:
! Even Number Reminder: An even number can be split into two equal groups with 0 left over.
Equal Addends: 6 = 3 + 3
1
Investigation 1: First Penny Grab (Small Collection)
Pick an even number between 4 and 16
Take an even handful of pennies. How many pennies did you take?
Total:
pennies
Draw your pennies in pairs or in two equal rows to prove they are even (none left out):
How do you know that this number of pennies is even? Explain in words:
Number Model with Equal Addends:
Write an addition equation using two identical parts that equal your total.
=
2
Investigation 2: Bigger Grab Challenge
Pick an even number between 18 and 30
Take a larger even handful of pennies. How many pennies did you take?
Total:
pennies
Organize your pennies into 2 equal teams or 2 rows. Show your model below:
How do you know for sure that this number is even without counting one by one?
Number Model with Equal Addends:
Write your doubles equation for this larger collection.
=
Penny Pairs Math Lab Turn page over for Detective Tasks → Page 1 of 2
Detective Tasks & Proofs
Reasoning about equal addends and remainders
Name:
Page 2
3
Task 3: Fair Share for Two Friends
Choose any even number from 32 to 50
Imagine you and a partner share this bag of pennies equally:
Our Even Total:
Show your thinking strategy to split this number into two equal addends (draw, decompose tens & ones, or write steps):
Equal Addends Number Model:
=
Could there be 1 leftover penny? Why or why not?
4
Task 4: The Odd Penny Dilemma
Mathematical Proof
A classmate says: “I have 15 pennies. 15 is an even number because 5 is a big number.”
Test it: Draw 15 pennies in pairs:
Can you write an equal addend equation for 15 using whole pennies?
Equation:
?
?
= 15
What goes wrong when you try?
5
Task 5: The Even Rule & Quick Sort
Even Number Rule: Any even collection of pennies can always be divided into equal groups with exactly pennies left over. The sum can always be written as a doubles fact!
Circle ALL the penny amounts below that are EVEN:
8
13
16
21
24
35
42
50
Even Numbers & Equal Addends Assessment Well done, Math Detective! Page 2 of 2
